PIA/GATF Digital Printing Council Releases Inkjet!

The Printing Industries of America/ Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) Digital Printing Council has recently launched Inkjet!, a new book that will serve as the definitive industry resource for the inkjet industry.

Described by the author, Frank Romano, as “the overnight sensation that took almost 40 years,” inkjet printing is now covered in its entirety in Inkjet!, commissioned by PIA/GATF’s Digital Printing Council and newly released by PIA/GATF Press.

“In Inkjet!, Frank Romano has captured everything about inkjet’s current and likely future place in our industry, leaving no stone unturned in an elegant and concise analysis that printers will undoubtedly come to rely upon,” said Julie Shaffer, Digital Printing Council director.

“Inkjet is not hype,” said Mr. Romano. “It deserves to be taken seriously, and those who are serious about their future in printing and graphic arts should pay attention.”

About Inkjet!: History, Technology, Markets and Applications

Inkjet printing is a form of digital printing that doesn’t use a static image carrier such as a plate. Digital printing is ideal for short-run needs, and is currently the preferred way to do variable or versioned jobs, and also for the transpromo market.

As quality and production speeds for inkjet presses come into alignment with industry needs, inkjet is seen by some to be an almost perfect printing process, if done correctly, since there is no image carrier, no makeready, instant drying and integrated finishing.

Inkjet! History, Technology, Markets and Applications is the perfect tool for anyone seeking to better understand inkjet technology, manufacturers, applications and more. Eight comprehensive chapters address the history of inkjet printing, the component era, the wide format era, inkjet printing technology, industrial printing, packaging printing, transaction and transpromo printing and drivers and trends.
I
nkjet! is available for PIA/GATF members for $55 and to non-members for $75. This and all PIA/GATF Press’s publications are available online at www.gain.net or by phone at (866) 855-4283.

PIA/GATF Establishes Center for Lean Practices

In 2007, PIA/GATF formed the Center for Lean Practices to assist the graphic communications industry with the implementation of Lean Manufacturing.

The Center for Lean Practices provides consulting, training, publications and a speaker’s bureau specifically for the printing industry.

Since its inception, the Center for Lean Practices has positive feedback from those who have taken advantage of the its products and services. According to PIA/GATF, one such printer reduced spoilage from 2.5 percent to 1.09 percent over the last year.

Ken Rizzo, PIA/GATF’s director of consulting, oversees the center’s activities. He has been involved with Lean practices for more than 20 years, including writing and teaching. Prior to rejoining PIA/GATF, Mr. Rizzo served as a process engineer for offset printing, where he led numerous lean manufacturing projects.

PIA/GATF’s Center for Lean Practices offers a number of products and services specifically for the printing industry, including consulting services and on-site training, Lean manufacturing for print managers workshop, Lean tools for optimizing print production workshop, continuous improvement conference, and a number of books published by PIA/GATF Press, including Lean Printing: Pathway to Success, Total Production Maintenance and Hot Topics: Center for Lean Practices – Lean Manufacturing 2.

For more information on the Center for Lean Practices go to www.gain.net or contact Ken Rizzo at (800) 910-4283 ext. 835.